Wind effects on the upwelling variability in the coastal zone of Primorye (the northwest of the Sea of Japan)

Abstract

The variability of upwelling events in the coastal zone of Primorye in the northwestern part of the Sea of Japan is studied using the SeaWinds/QuikSCAT scatterometer wind data for the period of 1999-2009. The intensity of upwelling is defined by the wind-induced offshore Ekman transport (the upwelling index). It was found that along the southern coast of Primorye upwelling events occur from September to March (April). The winter monsoon period is the most favorable for the upwelling development. In the eastern part of the coastal zone of Primorye upwelling is observed in transitional seasons between winter and summer monsoon (February-April and September-October). On the northeastern coast of Primorye, the upwelling season is from August to October (November). The common feature of the coastal zone of Primorye is a wind-driven upwelling in autumn (September-October). The interannual variability of winter upwelling along the southern coast of Primorye is related to the East Asia high pressure center (the Siberian High). The upwelling intensifies in the years with positive air pressure anomalies in the Siberian High and weakens in the years with negative anomalies.